Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 158: Book 3: Chapter 14: Progression

Read chapter 158 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 3: Chapter 14: Progression Book 3: Chapter 14: Progression [Time Remaining: 621 Days, 19 Hours, 41 Minutes] Alex sat apart from the others, firelight dancing across his face, the bloody stink of the battlefield and the putrid stench of bile still clinging to his clothes and inside his nostrils. At this point he wasn’t sure if the basilisk stomach bile, or the black goop of stat refinement was the worse smell. The camp hummed faintly behind him, low voices, the scrape of metal blades being cleaned, the occasional pained grunt from the recovering wounded. He didn’t join them. Instead, he stared at the hovering text only he could see. You Have Slain Basilisk Mother! +2306 Experience His eyes darted to side, swiping away the notification with a thought. He repeated this process for the few Juvenile Basilisks he had killed, each also giving him a nice chunk of experience points. Once every kill notification have been gone through he sighed and pulled up a portion of his status screen as well. Name: Alexander Pierce Experience: 26,934 Attributes: Strength: 18 (9.2%) Agility: 18 (10.7%) Vitality: 20 (3.4%) Wisdom: 18 (12.0%) Intelligence: 19 (82.5%) Willpower: 23 (1.8%) The numbers taunted him with possibility. He had enough experience to push Wisdom higher into the earth tribulation threshold. That would certainly make Obby happy. Or, maybe pour more into Willpower, a tactic he had seen as bearing fruit before, boosting his growth overtime. He could also just stack Vitality until he was a sheer meat-wall that no one could bring down. Something that would also massively increase his already pitiful aether pool. Every option pulled at him, and every choice had a cost. He rubbed his temple. As always the question is investing on future growth, risking death in the short term, or focusing of survivability in the now, and slowing my long term power… “Do I even need to voice my opinion?” Obby floated in front of him, tentacled arms crossed. No, I know what you’d pick, you crazed iron suppository. He waved a hand through the illusion that was Obby’s body, dispersing the aether. “You know,” a voice said behind him, “I’m starting to think you break my stuff on purpose.” Alex glanced up over his shoulder. Devon stood over him, arms folded, face half-lit. His thin frame cast a long shadow behind him, and his eyes were narrowed with the exact blend of irritation and wounded pride Alex had expected to see. “Not on purpose,” Alex said. “It just… happens. You keep making weapons too good not to break.” Devon huffed, dropping down onto the log beside him. “That’s your attempt at a compliment huh? I guess it not too bad, that spike was a prototype. You weren’t supposed to smash it with everything you had, though.” “Sorry,” Alex said, and he meant it. He thought for a moment, then added, “I’ll make it up to you.” Devon’s eyebrows arched. “How?” Alex’s gaze drifted inward. Obby, could you record one of your [Glyphcraft] lessons onto an aether-slab? Devon would eat that up. The pebble’s voice chuckled in his skull. “ Possible? Sure. Easy? Not for you. But later, yes I can help you put my brilliance into... stone. Finally, an audience worthy of me, I’m excited to spread my genius.” Alex smiled faintly. Good. We’ll do it. Turning back to Devon, he said, “I’ll get you something better than schematics. A real [Glyphcraft] lesson. Might help you push your designs further.” Devon did a double take, his face caught between suspicion and eagerness. “You’re serious?” “Serious.” Devon muttered under his breath, then sighed. “Fine. I’ll forgive you this time. Like I said, it was a prototype anyway.” His lips twitched into a nervous smile. “The plan is, I’m going to make it smaller. A version you could fire from a rifle. Imagine the output. Portable projectile bunker-buster.” Alex sat back, impressed by Devon’s idea despite himself. If he could make that spike into something as small as a bullet, with the right metal or material to handle the strain... “That’